The Final Boss Has Returned 37

Chapter 37

Ard World.

A vast world with the same area as Earth.

The continent that existed in that world was still one.

A giant continent with an area almost identical to the supercontinent Pangaea that is said to have existed on Earth in the past.

This land, called the Ard Continent, or simply ‘the Continent’, was the main stage of Ard Saga.

The sea spread out at the southernmost tip of the continent.

There was a huge ship on the vast ocean.

Sails fluttering in the wind.

Engraved on the sails was the symbol of the Lightwing Guild, a pair of pure white wings.

Lightwing Guild!

The strongest guild, shining at the top of the current Ard World Guild Comprehensive Ranking, was sailing south.

On the bow of the Lightwing Guild’s sailing ship heading towards the southern horizon, there was a man.

Melancholy beauty. Tall height and 8-head-to-body ratio, and a look that perfectly suits the term “face genius,” an absolute beauty with an overwhelming visual!

Eugene, the user who reached the top of Ard World, was silently staring at the shimmering horizon in the distance like a painting.

“Eugene.”

A woman approached Eugene from behind.

Long ears, a characteristic of the Elf race! Golden hair fluttering in the sea breeze! A beautiful woman with white skin, she was Sharp, an Elf Archer and a member of the Lightwing Guild and Eugene’s colleague.

“Yes, what is it, Sharp?”

When Eugene turned around and spoke, Sharp’s face turned as red as a sunset.

Sharp avoided his gaze, fiddled with her fingers, and said.

“Th, that is…….”

The moment she met Eugene’s gaze, Sharp’s mind went blank, and only after lightly tapping her cheek with her palm was she able to bring up the story she wanted to tell.

“……The internet is all about Drakan, that man. We’re losing the spotlight. What are you going to do?”

Drakan!

His actions were more unconventional and radical than Eugene and the Lightwing Guild had anticipated.

Not only did he draw users into the Lawless Port Recapture Battle and burn the city, but he also poured astronomical funds into the burned city, and now he even summoned the Merfolk, who had never appeared before!

It was only natural that the attention of the users, the eyes of the entire Ard World, were focused on Drakan.

Of course, he was not yet at the level of Cheonwoecheon, the peak position that Eugene should be concerned about, but it was true that he was rising up at a terrifying pace.

“Do we need to worry?”

“That man has Jeil Group behind him, and he might even become the Apostle of Darkness later?”

At Eugene’s words, Sharp continued speaking with a frustrated expression.

Apostle of Darkness!

The adversary of the Hero mentioned in the legend of Hero Leonhardt!

The speculation that Drakan would one day reach that position, which only appeared in the legends of Ard World, through the chain quest he was currently undertaking, was solidifying into near certainty after the release of the “Analysis King’s” analysis video.

The revival of the Dark Empire was the same.

“You know. Right now, we can’t check him. Until we figure out the cause of the Great Cataclysm that occurred in Ard World 10 years ago, the source of the Gate, the Pantheon and the Demon Court are in a tacit truce.”

“But!”

“We will not artificially intervene in the flow of Ard World. We will not punish users recklessly without justification. As long as Drakan stays within the line, I must also stay within the line.”

Eugene said so and closed his mouth.

Eugene had no intention of breaking the principles he had set for himself.

Iron Blood Alliance, Guild Alliance.

And Drakan.

This was because he wanted to show the people of the world that he was different from them, who had ruled Ard World through control six years ago.

And Drakan hadn’t crossed the line yet.

His actions were not much different from those of other users who were called promising.

Of course, if he really ascended to the position of the Apostle of Darkness, as the Analysis King analyzed, he would have to have a rematch someday like that time…….

At least not now.

Anomalies that appeared in Ard World after the Great Cataclysm.

Until all of that was resolved, the Pantheon and the Demon Court, light and darkness, had to maintain a tacit truce and a state of Cold War.

“Still, I’m a little…… somehow uneasy.”

Sharp sighed as she looked at Eugene.

Drakan’s current position was nothing more than a top prospect.

An infinitely insignificant existence compared to Eugene, the pinnacle and sun of Ard Saga, less than an ant!

That was the status Drakan currently held.

However, it was a natural story that Drakan would not stay in that position forever.

His growth rate and expansion of influence in Ard Saga Second were terrifying enough to make the six-year gap meaningless.

Even considering that he started the game with the reputation of being a former top-ranked player and Eugene’s past adversary, he had achieved a tremendous amount in the short time since he returned to the game.

If he continued to grow at this rate, he might even reach the position of Over-Ranker and rise to a position where he could be a threat to Eugene and the Lightwing Guild.

Sharp thought so.

Of course, even then, it wouldn’t be a big threat to Eugene and themselves, but the fact that Drakan would rise to that point, and moreover, that he would confront Eugene as the Apostle of Darkness, was not something Sharp liked.

And even a small risk is still a risk.

Sharp’s thought was that she wanted to nip it in the bud before it grew bigger, but she also knew that Eugene would never accept her opinion.

That’s why she was telling Eugene this to at least raise awareness.

As expected, Eugene, the man she loved, was kind but too stubborn, unnecessarily honest, and frustrating, sometimes looking like a pushover.

But that’s why she liked him, Sharp thought.

Looking at Sharp, Eugene smiled.

“Don’t worry unnecessarily, Sharp.”

Sharp’s face turned as red as a beet upon receiving Eugene’s smile.

Eugene placed his hand on Sharp’s golden hair and slowly stroked it as he spoke.

“We can regain the lost spotlight later with the interim evaluation video of the Legacy Quest that we will be undertaking.”

“Ah, ah, okay. I, I won’t……. Ah, I won’t worry!”

Sharp’s heart pounded as he gently stroked her hair, and Eugene smiled at her.

▄ ▄ ▄

Underwater Field!

I was currently riding a giant sea turtle with Nereus, running through that unfamiliar field that I had rarely visited even in the previous game.

The ride on the sea turtle was very unpleasant.

A ride that felt like a passenger car driving on an unpaved road!

If the Ten Thousand Year Coral Ring didn’t have the underwater adaptability enhancement option, I would probably be seasick underwater right now.

I was riding on the back of the turtle, looking at the underwater scenery whizzing by, and talking to Shin Ha-yeon through whispers.

[The whole internet is talking about Drakan-nim.]

[Is it because of the Merfolk, no, the Analysis King?]

Analysis King!

A streamer who surpassed 1 million subscribers on Ard Live and one of the famous influencers among Ard Saga users.

‘Influencer, the world has changed so much in the six years I was on a fishing boat.’

Influencer!

The world was changing so rapidly that new concepts like this, which I had never heard of until six years ago, were emerging.

Anyway, it was a good thing that the buzz about me was increasing.

The bigger the buzz, the bigger my influence would become.

[That’s right.]

[What’s Eugene’s reaction?]

[He’s still quiet. There’s a high possibility he won’t make a move in the future either.]

[I guess it’s because of the main story.]

Main story!

There were two main stories that could be considered the main story of Ard Saga Second.

The first was the Apostle of Darkness related quest that I was undertaking!

Now that the end of the quest was almost confirmed to be the revival of the Dark Empire, it was almost inevitable that I would ascend to the position of the Apostle of Darkness and confront Eugene, the Hero.

Of course, there had been more than one attempt to revive the Dark Empire in the history of Ard World, and each time, the forces of light had crushed them in the early stages before the forces of darkness could gather their strength.

But now, the forces of light, the Pantheon, could not interfere with me.

That was because of the second main story, the Great Cataclysm.

Until the Great Cataclysm, the anomalies, and the Gate were resolved, light and darkness would be in a tacit truce!

That background setting was so famous that I didn’t even need to investigate it separately.

Of course, it was called a truce, but it was practically a Cold War, but anyway, I had been given time.

Eugene!

Time to catch up to him.

[I’ll take good care of Lawless Port. Drakan-nim, please focus on the quest. If you need anything, please tell me anytime.]

[I will.]

With those words, I ended my whisper conversation with Shin Ha-yeon.

“We will arrive at our destination soon, Contractor.”

As soon as I finished whispering with Shin Ha-yeon, Nereus spoke with perfect timing.

The destination Nereus was talking about was Aqua Haven, the refuge of the Golden Scale Tribe, the Merfolk tribe led by Prince Nereus, after the Merfolk Kingdom was destroyed.

Hearing Nereus’ words, I looked ahead.

Aqua Haven!

The city, built by the Golden Scale Tribe to escape the Mermaid invasion, began to appear in the distance.

A huge valley formed deep in the sea where even light could barely reach, and under the translucent barrier stretched deep within the valley, buildings made of shells and stones were built, a city that shimmered faintly like a pearl in the darkness, came into my view.

It was a city of underwater races that had never been revealed in either the previous game or Second.

The sea turtle carrying me, Nereus, and the Merfolk escorting Nereus swam quickly, passed through the translucent barrier of Aqua Haven, and stopped at the entrance of the city.

[You have discovered Aqua Haven.]

[First Discovery Bonus!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[All stats increased by 10.]

[Fame increased by 1330.]

[You are the first traveler to set foot in the underwater city.]

[Aqua Haven is the last city built by Nereus, the prince of the Merfolk, after he was defeated in the final battle, leading the wounded Kraken and the Merfolk of the Golden Scale Tribe.]

[It is a city where only the Golden Scale Tribe, one of the eight Merfolk tribes, resides.]

[It is a city protected by the Kraken. However, the Kraken is currently injured and unable to act. Receive the quest from Nereus.]